Ward sister here. GCS of 3 is the lowest score you can get. I don’t know the ward routine for where you mum is, but on my ward the doctors have a board round at 9am (this is where the whole team and nurse in charge has a quick run through of each patient on ward). Then the ward rounds start. 3 or 4 teams of doctors (each under a different consultant) will see each patient on their list. The ward round can take a long time. Physios, OT, SALT, dietician and other specialties will also review patients on their lists. Ward nursing staff will start their day at 7am with a handover and then be doing drug rounds, washing patients, giving out breakfasts, monitoring patients, feeding them and so on. I can’t speak for other wards but mine is massively short staffed. So tasks now take longer to complete as there are fewer of us available to do them. The phones we have are not cordless ones so if we are in with patients, then we can’t get to a phone. We are lucky enough to have a brilliant ward clerk but she just works part time.
My ward allows 1hr visiting each day for all patients, bar the ones on our covid side (unless in exceptional circs). For those who are end of life, visiting is extended. It’s also extended in other certain circs. I understand though that each hospital will have a different policy.
Ideally, we or the doctors would update relatives (when a patient gives permission for this!) when they visit. Otherwise, we do like to telephone with an update. However this is not always possible. I always apologise when people can’t get through to us on the telephones. I know how hard and frustrating that is (both my parents died in the last 5yrs, and both died at the hospital I worked in). So I’m very aware of how important this is.
I’m so sorry that no one has phoned you with updates in the past ten weeks. Like I said, I’m always happy to update relatives (as much as I can when I have the time to), and our doctors are very good with doing that too (again when they are able to): I think it really does save a lot of stress/worry all around and it means that we all know where we are with things.
I would suggest that you telephone and/or email PALS (in fact, follow it up with an email, and list ALL your concerns and questions, it would be a good point of reference). They’re a great team, who will chase the ward and make sure that someone will get in contact with you.
As to you visiting, I know that for some it will be difficult or not always possible. Don’t worry about what other people think. You just do what you need to do. If you are wanting to/able to get down there, it might be worth speaking to the ward and seeing if you can visit due to living so far away and it being quite exceptional circumstances. I would allow it for my ward. But again I know all places are different.
I really hope that you are able to get hold of someone and they can really take the time to go through things with you. I wish you all the best x